Artificial tooth and bridgework



1,633 660 June 28, 1927. H- D. CHIPPS 1 ARTIFICIAL TOOTH AND BRIDGEWORK Filed Dec. 5, 1923 3 n-ue ntoz aftozuuga Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES HENRY.D. CHIPPS, OF CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH AND BRIDGEWORK.

Application filed December 5, 1928. Serial No. 678,684.

This invention relates to improvements in artificial teeth adapted for use in connection with bridges. It is an object of the invention to provide an artificial tooth, or

teeth, of such character that when applied to a bridge the whole restoration will be such as to give the maximum of strength and protection to resist the stresses of occlusion and mastication with a corresponding minimum of breakage and necessity for replacement.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an artificial tooth of such form that the dentist will be enabled to complete the restoration for assembly in the body of the bridge with the least amount of labor and time involved, and also to effect a considerable saving of gold over the usual form of bridge construction.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an artificial tooth form of such nature that a specially manufactured device or backing will not be'required for securing the tooth to the bridge. Heretofore it has been necessary to employ a special device built into the bridge for securing or holding the tooth in place. My invention obviates the necessity of employing such special backing and therefore materially reduces the time and cost of building or constructing a bridge.

The artificial tooth is so constructed as to have a root extension whereby the tooth can be used immediately after the loss of the natural tooth by insertion in the open alveolus, thus to a certain extent preserving the gum contour and gum septum. The root or base can be modified to suit varying requirements as will hereinafter appear. The improved tooth is further constructed with a plurality of bridge-abutting bases, said bases constituting the saddle of the tooth.

The above and other various features of novelty and invention will appear from the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a labial view of an anterior bridge;

Fig. 2 is a lingual view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of one tooth form made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a slightly different toothform;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, are views showing the steps in the procedure .of building a briige to receive the improved tooth form; an

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic representation 00 of how the root extension may be varied to suit varying conditions.

In the drawings numeral 1 indicates a pair of abutment teeth extending from the upper jaw; 2 the abutment pieces adapted to be capped over the abutment teeth 1; and 3 the body of the bridge proper extending between the abutment pieces 2. In Figs. 1 and 2 the restoration is shown as including four teeth between the abutment teeth 1. One of the artificial teeth is removed from the bridge in order to more clearly show the construction.

A number of forms of the improved artificial tooth is shown in the drawings, but the essential characteristics are the same in all of the teeth. The essential characteristics of the improved tooth are the root extension 4, the front face 5 in semblance of a natural tooth, and the saddle behind 30 such face and above the root, the saddle being generally indicated by numeral 6. As illustrated in Fig. 11 the root extension 4 may be adapted to suit varying conditions.

The saddle of the tooth is so constructed as to give maximum strength to the assembly and to permit a standardized construction to be effected. The saddle includes a longitudinally extending flat face 7 which is adapted to be disposed in abutting contact 90 with the front of the bridge. Arranged transversely to this face, preferably at right angles thereto, is an abutment face 8, and extending therefrom is an extension 9 which is of less cross-sectional area than the face 05 8. This extension serves as one part of the interlocking connection which is effected between the tooth and the bridge. The tooth forms are also provided with a socket 10 which extends in a direction parallel to the face 7 of the tooth. Into this socket will be entered a pin 11 extending from the body of the bridge.

As already stated the faces 7 and 8 are preferably arranged at right angles, but 5 they may be arranged at oblique or acute angles depending on circumstances or on the wishes of the dentist. The axis of the socket 10 should, however, be parallel to the face 7 or arranged at an oblique angle thereto, but not an acute angle for reasons that will presently appear. The extension 9 may have a flat face as in Figs. 6 and 4 but it may be cupped if so desired as shown in Fig. 3. The extension is preferably rounded in conformity to the rounded contour of the portion adjacent to the root extension, and the sides of the extension which merge into the face 7 may be arallel with each other though not necessarily so. The curvature of the extension may be continued so that the sides thereof form anacute angle with the face 7 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. One requirement of the extension 9 is that the sides thereof shall be parallel to the axis of the socket 10, or if not parallel, inclined cone fashion so that theapex of the extended side will be above the root extension, or, in other words, above the transversely disposed face 8. As indicated in Fig. 4 the top of the extension 9 may be inclined to be perpendicular.

In making up the bridge to which the improved tooth or 'teeth will be attached a wax cast is made of the tooth saddle as shown in Fig. 7 where said cast is referred to by reference numeral 12 which by reason of theconstruction of the saddle in the manner indicated may be readily withdrawn therefrom for further treatment. It will be readily understood that the wax impression before being withdrawn is molded and carved to occlusion or articulation with the opposing teeth in a manner well known to dentists, as by assembling in an articulator. A sprue former 13- is inserted into the wax restoration and the same invested and cast in gold, preferably in one of the hard alloys. In Flg. 8 the wax restoration with the sprue former attached thereto is shown removed from the tooth. Fig. 9 shows the gold casting with the gold extension 13' still in place thereon. Fig. 10 shows the surplus extension removed and the casting fitted to the tooth. The post or pin 11 is preferably cast integral with the main body of the casting, but, if desired, a

post of high fusing metal can be fitted inv the socket l0 and be removed with the casting wax restoration and consequently be cast as an integral part therewith.

The procedure qutlined above is the same whether one or more teeth are to be replaced. To build up the bridge from the individual, gold restorations obtained as above stated, the respective teeth with their gold restorations in place are assembled in proper relation with each other and the abutment pieces of the bridge and the occluding teeth and waxed to place with a hard, sticky wax. The several united pieces are then removed from the cast, the tooth forms (which are in porcelain) slipped oil, and the abutment pieces and cusp restorations are invested and united to each other with .gold solder. The bridge is then complete for attachment tothe abutment teeth, as soon as the porcelain tooth forms have been cemented to the bridge in their proper places.

From the above description it will be noted that the artificial tooth is of the natural tooth shape; the porcelain body of the tooth is substituted for gold in gum contact: the construction of the retaining saddle is such that it can be standardized by tooth classification; special backings are not required; the restoration for assembly in the finished bridge is of the simplest construction, requiring only one operation of casting; all of the parts of the facing subjected to stress are very effectively supported, reinforced, and protected by the restoration; the strength of the facing is very much enhanced by the body being built up into and integral with the face where other forms are weakened by their attachment; the replacement does not require alteration or rebuilding of the bridge, nor in many cases require its removal, particularly in the anterior teeth; breakage. if any, will be so minimized by inherent strength of the facing and its complete protection that replacement will be a minor factor; and the whole arrangement is adaptable to varying requirements of occlusion and gum contact by grinding.

While the invention has been described withconsiderable particularity of detail, it

will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In an artificial tooth having an upwardly extending front face portion, a root extension, an occlusion element, a saddle portion for the occlusion element positioned in the rear of the upwardly extending portion, a Socket extending lengthwise of the tooth, a peripheral seat formed by a portion of the tooth projecting from the face of the tooth approximately at right angles to the socket, an extending portion from the seat integrally connected with the tooth for the purse of receiving the occlusion element and olding it firmly in position, and a pin for the occlusion element adapted to interlock in the socket.

In testimony-whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY D. CHIPPS. 

